Ahead of the game: Tackling the Tractor Boys

Six games into the season, Ipswich coming to Madejski Stadium on a Friday night, Sky cameras covering every angle… sound familiar?

No doubt it’ll be a different game to last year’s 5-1 triumph – but three points would be just as welcome, whichever way they come.

With the rest of the Championship due to battle it out on Saturday and Sunday, it’s a chance for one of the two teams to go into the weekend with a head-start on the rest.

So let’s hope it’s another special evening under the floodlights for Royals supporters to remember!

Tickets are still available for our clash with Ipswich, and if you are a Member Card holder and buy your ticket in advance of three hours before kick-off, you will be eligible for a saving of £3 compared to matchday prices.

The Royals also have a special family section in the Eamonn Dolan Stand, with reduced ticket prices for you and your family.

For more information about ticket prices and how to purchase, click here.

And for our games against Ipswich, Birmingham and Huddersfield, Season Ticket holders can bring a friend along for FREE! To find out more about our ‘Bring your own Royal’ offer, just click here.

On a matchday, only very limited overflow parking is available at the stadium for £8 – we advise supporters to consider one of our off-site car parks. Non-Permit holders enter the Stadium via Northern Way only and Permit holders enter via Hurst Way and Northern Way.

If you have a child under the age of 12 in your car, you will be eligible to park in our special family parking area for £8 - spaces are available in advance by phoning the Ticket Office on 0118 968 1313 or visiting the Ticket Office in person. If purchasing in advance, parking permits will be posted or available for collection from the Main Ticket Office prior to matchday.

Jeremy Simpson takes charge of this one – his first ever visit to Madejski Stadium. The Lancashire-based official did oversee three of our fixtures last season though – away draws against Rotherham and Huddersfield, and a defeat at Leeds.

Assisting Mr Simpson will be Adam Matthews and Michael George, while fourth official for the evening is Tim Robinson.

Jaap Stam’s side at 5/4 favourites for the three points, while Mick McCarthy’s visitors are 12/5 to take a win back to Suffolk. 11/5 is the price for the scores to be tied at the final whistle.

Yann Kermorgant, our match-winner against Cardiff, is 15/8 to net again at any time for the Royals, while 5/2 are the odds on John Swift grabbing his third competitive goal on home soil.

There will be a revamped concourse menu in place for the 2016/17 season, details of which can be found by clicking here.

Piglets, our new pie supplier, are offering ‘pies of the month’ throughout the season – September’s offering is Chicken Jalfrezi or Vegetable Balti or Broccoli Cauliflower & Double Cheese. Click here to see all of our upcoming monthly offerings.

Feast your eyes on our matchday programme for just £3 – ‘The Royal’ is available in and around the ground. Get all you need to know about the Tractor Boys, programme notes from manager Jaap Stam and captain Paul McShane, news from the around the club and much, much more!

Young supporters can visit the Royals Fun Zone, just outside the Eamonn Dolan Stand, Gate 6. Football based games will be available for young fans to put their skills to the test! The Fun Zone will also be open at half-time for supporters to come and have fun.

And thanks to our Official Pouring Rights Partner, Heineken, Royals fans can enjoy a beverage at the ‘Royals Rendezvous’ before the game. Located outside the East Stand, the area is an ideal place to catch up and enjoy a drink with fellow fans before the action kicks off!

Don’t forget to get your Golden Gamble ticket – the draw, sponsored by STAR, will be made at half-time. Tickets can be purchased from designated sellers based around the stadium, for just £1. There are two prizes up for grabs: a cash prize or an item of Reading FC merchandise, signed by the team! All funds go to the Reading FC Community Trust.

Download our Guide to the Game by clicking here.

The best way to follow the game live is at Madejski Stadium in person, by getting behind the team!

But if you can’t make it to the match, you can listen to every pass, tackle and goal with live audio commentary on Reading FC PlayerHD for as little as £4.49 per month. Not only that, but our online subscription also allows you access to extended match highlights and exclusive interviews which you won’t see anywhere else.

As ever, we’ll also provide live updates on our Twitter and Facebook pages, as well as looking out for our match photos on Instagram.

Head to Snapchat and find 'officialrfc' to follow our matchday story as it unfolds!